Wind Loads on Non-Building

Structures for the Practicing Engineer

Emily Guglielmo, SE
Martin/Martin, Inc.
2011 NCSEA provided a survey to 9,500 engineers.

“What modifications or additions would you like to

see in the wind sections of ASCE 7?”

1. Simplify the
1 provisions
2. Go back to UBC
2
3. Stop changing
3
4. Improve guidance on open structures, canopies,
4
tall parapets, PV, screenwalls.
5. Already done 5 in ASCE 7-10
 NCSEA Recommendations to ASCE 7:
1. Reduce Number of Methods to one (1) Computational Method and one (1)
Tabular Method.

2. Consolidate Wind Provision in ASCE 7 and IBC to ASCE 7 and simplify the
provisions.

3. Provide criteria for commonly encountered conditions (Canopies, Tall

Parapets, Mechanical Screens, PV Panels).

4. Provide design procedures for RTUs

on buildings > 60’.

5. Simplify free-standing wall provisions.

6. Provide guidance for irregular building

configurations.
 Topics:

WIND LOADS ON:

• Rooftop Equipment
• Solar PV
• Rooftop Screenwalls
• Freestanding Walls and Signs
• Tall Parapets
• Tanks and Silos
• Trellises
• Canopies
 Main Wind Force Resisting
System (MWFRS)
Chapter 29– Other Structures
• Conditions, Limitations
• Solid Freestanding Walls or Signs
• Solid Attached Signs
• Wind Loads on Rooftop Structures and Equipment
• Parapets
• Roof Overhangs
• Minimum Design Wind Loadings
Components & Cladding (C&C)

Chapter 30 – Part 6 - C&C for Building

Appurtenances and Rooftop
Structures and Equipment

•Parapets
•Roof Overhangs
•Rooftop Structures and Equipment
 Rooftop Equipment
MWFRS: 29.5.2, 29.5.3 (h ≤ 60 ft)

Fh = qh (GCr ) A f , 1.0 ≤ (GC r ) ≤ 1.9

Fv = qh (GCr ) Ar , 1.0 ≤ (GC r ) ≤ 1.5
 Rooftop Equipment
C&C: 30.11 (h ≤ 60 ft)

Ph = qh (GCr ) , 1.0 ≤ (GC r ) ≤ 1.9

Pv = qh (GCr ) , 1.0 ≤ (GC r ) ≤ 1.5
 GCr

GCr=1.9 GCr 1.0

Area < 10% of Area = windward
windward wall wall
Rooftop Equipment for Buildings
(MWFRS) (Section 29.5.1)
Office Building
–Wichita, KS (V=115mph)
–L = 200 ft., B = 100 ft.
–Roof Height: h = 40 ft.
–Roof Slope, Flat: 0.25:12
–Exposure Category: C

Mechanical Unit Plan Dimensions: 10’ wide x 20’ long

RTU Height: 4’ over 1’ tall curb
Projected Height: 4’+1’=5’

Lateral Force: Fh= qh(GCr)Af (Eq 29.5-2)

Vertical Force: Fv= qh(GCr)Ar (Eq 29.5-3)
Calculate qh
qh calculated at mean roof height of building
qh=0.00256KzKztKdV2

Find Kh
Kz @ h = 40’, Exposure C Kz = 1.04 (Table 29.3-1)
Find Kd for building Kd = 0.85 (Table 26.6-1)
Find Kzt
Assume Kzt=1.0
Find qh

qh= 0.00256KzKztKdV2
qh= 0.00256(1.04)(1.00)(0.85)(115)2 = 29.9 psf
HORIZONTAL WIND FORCE
Check projected area of unit compared with projected area of
building:
B*h = 100’(40’) = 8,000 ft2
Af = 20’(5’) = 100 ft2
Af < 0.1Bh: 100 ft2< 800 ft2
GCr= 1.9
HORIZONTAL WIND FORCE
Fh= (29.9 psf)(1.9)(Af) = 56.9psf (Af) (Equation 29.5-2)

Fh= (56.9 psf)(100 ft2) = 5,687 Lbs. // to long side

Fh= (56.9 psf)(50 ft2) = 2,843 Lbs. ⊥ to long side

Horizontal wind forces

applied to geometric
center of vertical
2,843 lbs.
projected plane of
unit.
VERTICAL WIND FORCE
Check projected area of roof compared with that of building:
8,979 lbs.
B*L = 100’(200’) = 20,000 ft2
Ar= 20’(10’) = 200 ft2

Ar<0.1BL: 200 ft2< 2,000 ft2

GCr= 1.5

Fv= (29.9 psf)(1.5)(200 ft2) = 8,979 Lbs. (Equation 29.5-2)

Vertical wind forces applied at

geometric center of horizontal plane of unit.

Note: The UPLIFT pressure acts SIMULTANEOUSLY with either the parallel or
perpendicular lateral pressure.
Rooftop Equipment for Buildings (C&C)
(Section 30.11)
Loads for Designing the Equipment cabinet enclosure

Lateral C & C pressures:

Fh= 5,687 Lbs. (from previous)

Fv = 8,979 Lbs. (from previous)

C & C Lateral Loads: Fh/Af= 5,687 Lbs./100 ft2 = 56.9 psf

Load is applied toward or away from unit on all sides.

C & C Vertical Loads: Fv/Ar= 8,979 Lbs./200 ft2= 44.9 psf

Load is applied only in the Upward direction, away from the top of the unit
What about rooftop equipment for
h>60 feet?

ASCE 7-16
Solar PV

ASCE 7-16
Rooftop Solar
 Rooftop Screenwalls
Poll: What wind pressure do you use to design a
rooftop screenwall?

a) Rooftop Structures and Equipment?

b) Solid Freestanding Sign with

Adjustment?

c) Parapet Pressures?
 Rooftop Screenwall
ASCE 7-16: New Commentary
C29.5.1: Mechanical equipment screens commonly are used to conceal plumbing, electrical or
mechanical equipment from view and are defined as rooftop structures.. located away from the
edge of the building roof such that they are not considered parapets… little research is available
to provide guidance for determining wind loads on screen walls and equipment behind screens.
Accordingly, rooftop screens.. should be designed for the full wind load determined in
accordance with Section 29.5.1. Where substantiating data have been obtained using the Wind
Tunnel Procedure, design professionals may consider wind load reductions in the design of
rooftop screens.
What about equipment behind rooftop
screens? Appropriate to consider
shielding?
Phase 1 IBHS Research Center & ASHRAE
Testing: Preliminary Findings
• Equipment height above top of screen increases
wind loads.
• Fully enclosed configurations lower wind loads.
• Partially enclosed screen configurations do not
provide significant wind load reduction.
• Screen type does not significantly change wind
loads.
Phase 2 IBHS Research Center & ASHRAE
Testing
• Evaluate wind loads on screenwalls themselves.
Solid Freestanding
Walls and Signs
Solid Freestanding Walls and Signs
Solid Freestanding Walls and Signs
Solid Freestanding Walls and Signs
Solid Freestanding Walls and Signs
Solid Sign at Ground Level
(Exposure C, 115 mph)
F = qhGCfAs(lb) (Eq 29.4-1)

30’ Wide x 10’ High s=10’, B=30’, h=10’

Kh = 0.85 (Table 29.3-1)

Kd= 0.85 (Table 26.6-1)
Kzt=1.0 (assumed)

qh= 0.00256 KhKztKdV2

qh= 0.00256(0.85)(1.00)(0.85)(115)2= 24.5 psf

G = 0.85 (Section 26.9 – Rigid Structure)

 B 30'
Figure 29.4-1 for Cf = = 3.0 Aspect Ratio
s 10'
s 10'
= = 1.0 Clearance Ratio
h 10'

For B/s = 2: Cf= 1.40 Interpolating for B/s 3.0, Cf= 1.375
For B/s = 4: Cf= 1.35
Figure 29.4-1 for Cf
F = qhGCfAs (Eq 29.4-1)

F = (24.5 psf)(0.85)(1.375)As= 28.59 psf*As

As= B x s = 30’x10’ = 300 ft2

F= 28.6 psf*As = 28.6 psf(300 ft2) = 8,577 Lbs.

For CASE A, Load is applied at

plan center and at (s/2)+(0.05h)
= 5.5’ above base.

Case A
 For CASE B, load is applied
at 5.5’ above base and at
0.2B offset from either side
of plan centerline.

0.2B = 0.2(30’) = 6.0’ either

side of plan centerline.

Case B
 For CASE B, load is applied
at 5.5’ above base and at
0.2B offset from either side
of plan centerline.

0.2B = 0.2(30’) = 6.0’ either

side of plan centerline.

Case B
Check if CASE C must be considered (note 3, Figure 29.4-1)

If B/s ≥ 2.0, CASE C must be considered.

B 30'
= = 3.0 > 2.0
s 10'
Consider CASE C.
 B 30'
Enter Figure 29.4-1 for Cf, under CASE C = = 3.0
s 10'

0-s Cf= 2.60 from 0 to 10 ft.

s-2s Cf= 1.70 from 10 to 20 ft.
2s-3s Cf= 1.15 from 10 to 30 ft.

Footnote 4:

For CASE C, where s/h > 0.8, Cf may be multiplied by reduction factor (1.8 – s/h).
s/h = 1.0 > 0.8

(1.8 – s/h) = (1.8 – 1.0) = 0.8

F = qhGCfAs (Eq 29.4-1)

F1 = (24.5 psf)(0.85)(2.60)(0.8)(10’x10’) = 4,324 lbs.

F2 = (24.5 psf)(0.85)(1.70)(0.8)(10’x10’) = 2,828 lbs.
F3 = (24.5 psf)(0.85)(1.15)(0.8)(10’x10’) = 1,913 lbs.

For CASE C, apply F1,

F2, and F3 at plan
centerline of each
length, s.

Apply F1, F2 and F3 at

5.5’ above base.

Case C
 Solid Freestanding Walls and
Signs: ASCE 7-16
• New research and provision cover deeper signs
(electronic).
• Minor revisions to the provisions.
Tall Parapets
Tall Parapets
Tall Parapets
Tall Parapets
 History of Parapet Design
• Before ASCE 7-02 there were no provisions for
wind loads on parapets.
• ASCE 7-02 a method was introduced based on
“the committee’s collective experience,
intuition, and judgement”.
• ASCE 7-05 provisions were updated with
research from University of Western Ontario
and Concordia University.
 Parapet Research To-Date
• There are many studies on parapets effects on
the roof loads.
• Due to instrumentation limitations, there are
limited studies on wind forces on the parapet
itself.
• Results of tests suggest wind loads on parapets
are independent of parapet height1
1Reference:Wind Loads on Parapets: Part 2: Structural and Local Cladding Loading on the Parapet Itself, C.
Mans/ G. Kopp/ D. Surry, BLWT-SS37-2001/June 2001
Tall Parapets
 ASCE 7-16 – Silos & Tanks
• Current provisions are based on ANSI A58.1 – 1982.
• Current provisions are based on a “drag” coefficient
approach
• New provisions are based on the Australian Standard
ASCE 7-16 – Silos & Tanks
Wind Load on Trellis
Wind Trib = 6” tall x 30’ long = 15 ft2 Wind Trib = 6” tall x 30’ long x 50 slats= 750 ft2
Total Force = 20 psf x 15 ft2 = 300 lbs. Total Force = 20 psf x 750 ft2 = 15,000 lbs.
~2 x height air
flow has
reattached and
should be
considered
~2 x height air
flow has
reattached and
should be
considered
~2 x height air
flow has
reattached and
should be
considered
~2 x height: air
flow has
reattached and
should be
considered
 Canopies and Awnings
External Pressure Coefficient, Cp
• One of the oldest figures of ASCE 7.
• Helps us understand wind behavior.

60
 Canopies and Awnings

Down-draft effect of wind

flowing down building

Use Cp=0.80 (same as

windward wall) on the top of
canopy

61
 Canopies and Awnings

Wind flowing up the face of the

building

Use Cp=0.80 (same as

windward wall) on the bottom of
the canopy plus the roof uplift
on the top.
ASCE 7-16 – Attached Canopies
ASCE 7-16 – Attached Canopies
 Additional Resources
• Wind Loads for Petrochemical and Other Industrial
Facilities
• SEAOC Wind Design for Low-Profile Solar
Photovoltaic Arrays on Flat Roofs
 Additional Resources
• Guide Specifications for Design of Metal Flagpoles,
ANSI/NAAMM FP1001-97, 4th Edition
• Structural Standards for Steel Antenna Towers and
Antenna Supporting Structures, ANSI/TIA-222-G
 Additional Resources
• Wind Loads on Small Roof-Mounted Air-
Conditioning Units, IBHS Research Center
Questions?
 Summary
• There are attempts to address commonly
encountered conditions (canopies, h>60’,
screenwalls, solar PV).

• Even when the code doesn’t address an issue,

we can extrapolate to find a solution.

• Use resources from related industries for

guidance on non-building wind loads.
Emily Guglielmo
eguglielmo@martinmartin.com
415-814-0030